Music is the speech of angels

Music is the speech of angels. Angels are the exemplifications of goodness, uprightness, and everything that bespeaks of morality and mortality. It is said that music is the child of prayer and the companion of religion. Among the Hindus and the Egyptians, music is interwoven with religion. I

Aristotle, the great philosopher, saw in music not only enjoyment, relaxation, and recreation, but also release of tension and an incentive to a positive development of character. Likewise Plato, another Greek philosopher said, “Through music, rhythm and harmony find their ways into the inner-most soul of man which becomes part of his personality.”

Music is the unifying element where man finds adequate expression and inner satisfaction for feelings. Dignity and love of work is manifested in songs about the boatman (barcarolle), sailor (chantey) , and the farmer (Japanese rice planting songs). Early history of man has a treasure of  songs evoking friendship (English), victory (Greeks), grief ( Russians), and festivities ( French ). The Belgians have songs for bathing, and the Vikings also had songs about rowing their boats. John Dewey said in Sobritchea’s “ Famous People on Music”, As sculpture expresses the enduring, the stable , and the universal, so music expresses stir, agitation, movement, the particular, and contingencies of existence (47).

Music helps establish emotional integrity. Fully aware  of his social and moral responsibilities, the teachers uses remedial measures to extricate the student from delinquent situations, safe from the thorny clutches of evil and vice and from crime—through new musical presentations such as music in the puppet and marionette shows.

That music is a manna for emotional catharsis finds evidence in the continuing proliferation of music groups, vocal and instrumental, and in the various contests and festivals which allow the surfacing of talents of the people, young an old

( American Idol, Just for Variety et al ).

It is now generally realized  that music; brought about in ways that have meaning to the child, contributes significantly to building the child’s personal identity, enriching his life by developing understanding and perception in his social environment through sound, color, emotion, thought and social relationships and expanding his ability to imagine, create, and appreciate with discriminating judgment.

Human beings are lovers of music. Singing, according to Quema  Torrelavega in “ The Myths in Music”  was an ongoing even before the discovery of other countries such as the Americas (98). In Roman mythology, the spirits of the gods had to be appeased through songs. Prayers, lustrations and laughter were accompanied by songs. Music is a necessary ingredient in all ceremonies: weddings, delivery of the new baby, baptismal, etc. Music is the flavor of games, dances, worship, festivities, and other ceremonies expressing joy, humor, wonder, and sorrow.

Again to include John Dewey as cited in David’s “ Music’s Mystique”, said that music is also change. For Music is a discipline geared to the physical, social, and physiological developments of people, as well as to the socio-economic aspects that lead to the fulfillment of moral values.

Motivated and inspired to music, the out- of- school youth is more  than willing to sing and strum his guitar, if only to give expressions of enjoyment and pride in his chosen are- music.  People young and old, have developed a natural and perennial longing for cultural evidence local and foreign, and a feeling for increased involvement and a high level of participation. They seize every opportunity to go out not only to promenade in the streets but also to share, as willing and intelligent music consumers, to free concerts, recitals, vocal or instrumental and other presentations at open parks, cultural centers, art auditoriums, theaters, and other entertainment venues.

A powerful antidote to the multifarious problems of delinquency in this troubled world, music affords profitable changes in man’s societal surroundings (89) , according to Peaches Noveuelli  in her book ”  The Fancies and Guiles of Music”.  Cultural exchange in the performing arts have paved the groundwork for deepened social, and moral goodwill amongst people—Asian, European and the like. Music has effected the blending of culture of the east and west.

Music serves as the liaison between the youth and his stand in the community, socially and morally. Singing native songs becomes a pleasurable campaign to propagandize the country’s vast reservoir of human talent.

Music is a very important vehicle in the extension of man’s love of country. It is a strong medium that strengthens nationalism and solidarity. The reference book,  “The Legacy of Euripedes” by Edward Romulis states that Hungarian music educators – Zoltan Kodaly, and Bela Bartok, introduced folksongs-the supreme expression of life, play, and work – as the core of their music curriculum (90). Frederick Chopin, the great Polish composer, known as the Poet of the Piano expressed the national sentiments of his people through his polonaises.

Music has a deep respect for the beauty of nature. To achieve beauty, the composer utilizes a kinship of many elements: melody, harmony, rhythm and dynamics. Through music, man attempts to reduce phenomena into matters of order and definite form. With sound and silence as basic components, music is delivered into varied styles whether in the haunting and mystic music of the East or to the acculturated music of the West.

Music is a testing ground and clearing house for talents. Shinichi Suzuki has spent more than three decades teaching violin to children. Music  is a mental discipline, after all, and oftentimes demands training, schooling, and guidance.

Music performed as solo or in groups has been one of countries’ big “exports”—be it choral or instrumental. The creative rock and pop singers, the gyrating combo players in their new age music, and other instrumental players are tangible evidences that they are substantial contributors to the country’s coffers. Music is really an impetus for progress and indispensable in the enhancement of the quality of man’s life. Music’s continuing attention for aesthetic pleasure is adequately shown in Chopin music, romantic violin concertos, or in the magnificent operas, sonatas, and symphonies of the elite society to whet the appetite of music lovers.

The only bad effect that can be mentioned of music, is the effect of some forms of innovations in music, like rap and spoken word music, because they tend to increase the hyperactivity of the youth of today,[ sometimes, the young merely opt to have their earphones plugged into their ears, even during class hours, and they do not listen to their teacher’s lectures anymore ], but this is problem that can be handled easily, through discipline measures, like detention.

But, this aside, one thing remains, that music knows no bounds.

Sources:

David, Lucianno.  “ Music’s Mystique”

Dell Publishing: Chicago, 2000.

Noveuelli, Peaches ”  The Fancies and Guiles of Music”.

9th gate Presses: Italy, 2001.

Romulis, Edward.  “The Legacy of Euripedes”

Blaisdale Publishing: London, 1996.

Sobritchea, Paulinho. “Famous People on Music”.

Wagonhouses Books: London, 1999.

Torrelavega, Quema.  “The Myths in Music” .

Harper and Row: USA , 1997.